Hotel Calypso

Matala is such a lovely place for a holiday, and this beautifully renovated hotel made it even better. I'd definitely recommend it 🫶

The pool and the location were the good parts for us. But from check-in in 2013 until we left, my friend and I never really felt welcome. We had booked twin beds and were first given a room with one double bed because, they said, the others were full. We asked about it every day and eventually got the room we wanted, though it seemed to be given to us reluctantly. The website photos show the new building, while the rooms in the main building are less attractive. We came to relax and aren't party people, but we often felt treated as if we were loud young kids, even though we weren't any louder than the other guests. The staff's kids came to the hotel pool every afternoon and were so noisy that guests would leave looking really annoyed. The food was the worst part. It felt like the hotel put very little effort into it, and the same dishes came back after two or three days. We stopped eating there after five days. On the way to the beach, Giannis' Restaurant advertises the best breakfast in Matala, and in our experience it lived up to that claim. So, the pool and location worked for us. The staff, the noise from their kids, the main building rooms, and the repetitive food didn't.

There was loud, dated music playing on speakers in a tiny cafe space until midnight. It felt completely unnecessary, and I understand it to be illegal in Greece after 10 pm. I went over to speak with them, but nothing changed. They showed no consideration for anyone trying to rest.

The staff were great at breaking the ice and introducing guests to each other, and they were efficient too. With the nice pool and bar, good food, and an easy walk into town and to the beach, it made for a fun, relaxed stay. If you go, tell Tomas that Paul sent you! 🤣